Eyewitness Account of Three Syrian Christians Killed by Extremists

Syria now a "land of martyrs."

Fides reported on an eyewitness account of three Christians killed following the incursion of jihadist fighters in the ancient Syrian Christian village of Maalula where Aramaic is sitll spoken.

The survivor of the attack on a Christian home offered a horrific picture of the unfolding events in the village.

According to what the woman told Fides, the armed groups enter many homes of civilians on September 7, destroying and terrorizing people, damaging all the sacred images. In one house there were three Greek Catholic men Mikhael Taalab, his cousin Antoun Taalab, Sarkis el Zakhm, Mikhael’s grandson, and the woman A. , their relative, who says what happened. The Islamists warned everyone present to convert to Islam. Sarkis answered clearly: "I am a Christian and if you want to kill me because I am a Christian, do it". The young man together with the other two were killed cold bloodedly. The woman was injured and was saved by a miracle, later taken to hospital in Damascus. "What Sarkis did is true martyrdom, a death in odium fidei", said Sister Carmel to Fides, among the Christians of Damascus who assist the displaced in Maalula. Those present at the funeral were very moved. Today 's displaced in Maalula, mostly in Damascus, emphasizes the nun, " ask to be able to return to their homes, in peace and security".

The New York Times reported earlier this week on the jihadist incursion into the village here.

UPDATE 9/14: The UK's Telegraph offers a harrowing portrait of the state of Maalula in the wake of the incursion.

On Sunday thousands of Christians should have filled its streets for the festival of the Holy Cross. But instead the streets of Maaloula are filled with soldiers and tanks, spent bullet casings and the noise of Syria's latest front-line fight.

Maaloula is a special place. It has been a safe haven for Christians for 2,000 years - until now. It was a place of refuge so secure in its rugged mountain isolation that a dialect of the language of Christ, Aramaic, is still spoken here. But not today.

Its Christian community of 2,000 has fled. In the tight alleyways and streets that wind up the Maaloula's mountainside their language has been replaced by the Arabic of two bitter enemies: rebels from three Islamist groups and the soldiers of President Bashar al-Assad.

the expulsion of 850,000 Jews who fled or were forced to leave Muslim countries in the mid 20th century. I juxtapose this underreported tragedy with the present persecution of Christians in those same lands.

Gilbert draws attention to the the events in Maalula:

Even as America and Russia continue their danse macabre around WMD accusations, Syria’s ancient Christian village of Maalula has been attacked by rebel forces — some of them affiliated with al-Qaeda. On September 11, a source inside the country reported to Nina Shea at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom:

More than 30 Christians are missing, 6 have been killed, we have the names of 3 of them. The Mor Serkis monastery has been bombed, but we don’t know about the damage. Most of the residents fled to Damascus, those who have not been able to get out of their houses because of ongoing fights between opposition groups and Syrian military, remained in Maalula. The Jabhat al Nusra, Free Syrian Army and the Syrian army occupied Maalula.

Comments

Dave’s comments about how much more civilized Christians are than our savage Muslim brothers would be a tad more convincing had Christian Europe not followed several centuries of conquest and colonization of the globe with the spectacular orgy of genocide that was the 20th century.

Killing on an industrial scale…tens of millions of innocent dead…we can and should denounce the brutality of militant Islam, honor and mourn its victims, and do everything we can to protect those in danger from it, but please! To pretend that Christians enjoy some peculiar immunity from reveling in the wholesale butchery of innocents, is just plain delusional.

Posted by Jerry on Monday, Sep 16, 2013 8:43 PM (EDT):

Posted by mrscracker on Monday, Sep 16, 2013 5:00 PM (EDT):Jerry,
Again, if you’re the same commenter who claims to be prolife, why are you suggesting “extinction” for millions of Muslims?
* * *
Yes, Mrscracker, I know it sounds hypocrtical. Well, it is. But that comes from my emotions. I am pro-life. I’m also realistic. We know what mohammedans in the millions are capable of doing to us, and have done to us. They will do anything spread their virus of mohammedanism among us and do what they can do to force even you to become a mohammedan. Like every pro-lifer, I believe in self-defense. If someone comes after me, I will do what I can to protect myself, even if it involved killing. Every pro-lifer knows that no basic, fundamental, paramount right is absolute, including the right to life. Should someone threaten your family to the point of death, would you not kill them if there was no other option? I know I would, without any feeling of regret. There’s a world of difference between an unborn baby or someone who’s sick and someone who’s adamant about forcing everyone to appease some non-existent god through murderous terror. The mohammedans will do nothing to stop the latter. For that, they are our murderous enemies and the only way to stop them is to kill them. Should millions (including women a children) go up in a mushroom cloud once and for all to stop what they’re trying to do to the rest of us, then so be it. That’s their choice.

Posted by heather on Monday, Sep 16, 2013 8:27 PM (EDT):

Posted by Lillian Porter on Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 10:56 PM (EDT):
Heather,
This is a Christian publication, founded by Christians, for Christians. You are welcome to join us. What is pointed out here and in earlier stories, is that the world’s press has been silent about the genocide until very recently. Maaloula is getting attention from some of them now because it is a World Heritage Site, a place of ancient art and language.
==============
Lillian—you think I don’t care? It was reported in 2001 (February, before 9/11) that Islamic authorities in Afghanistan ordered the destruction of all non-Islamic statues and temples, including several ancient statues of Lord Buddha, dating to pre-Islamic times.
=============
Before 9-11, the news that ancient art (museums, temples, statues) was not much news. I don’t hear anyone regretting the loss of non-Christian artifacts.
===========It is believed that the Jobar Synagogue, one of the world’s oldest, was built atop a cave where the Prophet Elijah once hid from persecution. One of the earliest historical mentions of the synagogue can be found in the Talmud.
The holiest Jewish site in Syria – the 2,000-year-old Jobar Synagogue in Damascus – has been looted and burned, and its roof blown off. The Syrian army and rebel forces have both blamed each other for the demolition of the historic landmark.
===
http://rt.com/news/synagogue-jobar-destroyed-damascus-139/
============
Mesopotamia artifacts and archaeological sits were destroyed in Iraq back in 2003 in one of the many consequences of the Gulf War. Greek, Roman, Nordic and other Pagan temples and statues were destroyed by Christians, and pagan holidays were polluted by Christianity.
============
So, don’t give me your crap—you’re upset because it was Christian art. Artifacts of civilizations that are/were not Christian don’t matter to you.

Posted by mrscracker on Monday, Sep 16, 2013 5:00 PM (EDT):

Jerry,
Again, if you’re the same commenter who claims to be prolife, why are you suggesting “extinction” for millions of Muslims?

Posted by M. Waters on Monday, Sep 16, 2013 1:29 PM (EDT):

Father, for all those who were not able to leave, please cover them with your angels wings so that their enemies will not be able to see them as they escape. Let these dear souls know that you are protecting them, Amen.

Posted by Dave Gilmer on Monday, Sep 16, 2013 1:01 AM (EDT):

Sabri Husibi, my ancestors fought the British for several years, ALONE, before the French finally rendered assistance beyond the occasional supply of arms. Time for you to man up. You and yours can either die whining or die fighting. It’s a pity your civilization hasn’t ever organized anything other than bloody conquest. There would be no America today if we had been Muslim, depending on Muslim countries to help us fight Muslim tyranny. Just substitute “Christian” for “Muslim” in the preceding sentence and contemplate the difference in outcome. Allah is NOT The God of Israel and of Christianity! Think about it.

Posted by Sabri Husibi on Monday, Sep 16, 2013 12:54 AM (EDT):

What ?? Do you want me to tell you what Christianity and judisiem about ?? Both religions in general about molesting kids and raping women ! My friend Mr. Christian mr. Hetler was Christian was he ?? The crusade was Christian ! And The great sweest heart Christian how used Neucler and killed over two hundred thousand innocent civilians !
I live in the capital bible city one of the most habecrates fandamentlist people in the earth ! They have the highest chiled molestation in the earth Nd women raped and women abuse ever !!! Do you want me to tell you how the Jewish ? Those how stoled palatieban land and killed hundred of thousand innocent kids and civilians !! And kiked out the native Palestinian out and stoled their land and made millions of innocent people refuges and homeless !! Fucking eviles Christians and Jewish !!

Posted by Jerry on Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 11:49 PM (EDT):

Well, Jesus Del Salvador, you need to read up more and even experience what’s going on in Turkey rather than being an apologist for mohammedanism. I’ve been in Constantinople (“Istanbul”). I’ve talked with countless Turks who are upset with the rising mohammedan insurgency. While they are “born-and-bred” moslems, they have no connection to it. They are all pure secularists, not mohammedans. They celebrate Christmas and not Ramadan. They know there are no “moderate” mohammedans in Turkey. There are those that want to impose a theocratic sharia state and, well, no one else. One “born-and-bred” moslem who was our tour guide told me that he and his wife were fearful of what the mohammedans want. They don’t believe in that mohammedan bullsh*t, as they called it. Religion, to them, is oppressive. He said the Christian stuff that has been secularized is more fun, like Christmas and Easter. There are trees, Santa, Easter Bunnies and eggs. What really terrified him and his wife, he told me, were the mohammedan women who wanted to wear stupid veils and slacks and were at the forefront of the mohammedan onslaught against secularism in Turkey. They don’t want any religion in government. They want freedom. When religion tries to impose itself on government, there is dictatorship.

Posted by Sabri Husibi on Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 11:41 PM (EDT):

Lies ! Lies just shut the f..k off ! We have being suffering forty years under the most bloody regime in the earth ! So far hundred of thousand Civilians has being killed most of those kids women and orderly ! You didn’t you do ? nothing or say nothing even the regime used chemical W on our family’s and kids ! What did you say or do ???? You are lying now ! You are taking the dictators side idiot !!

Posted by Lillian Porter on Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 10:56 PM (EDT):

Heather,
This is a Christian publication, founded by Christians, for Christians. You are welcome to join us. What is pointed out here and in earlier stories, is that the world’s press has been silent about the genocide until very recently. Maaloula is getting attention from some of them now because it is a World Heritage Site, a place of ancient art and language.
Where Christianity is most persecuted, the Church gains more converts. In the west, we are only at stage three to four of persecution. We must suffer insults and attempts to marginalize us and we are having laws passed against us.
The Catholic Church has 2.1 billion members. It is the most integrated organization on the planet. The university system was founded by it. Hospitals were founded by it. The Church was instrumental in the development of the arts and sciences. It has produced great scientists such as Father Gregor Mendel and Fr. Georges Lemaitre. The Catholic Church gives more to charity in goods, service and money, than any other NGO. The Catholic Church teaches most about the dignity of the human person made in the image of God and is praying, not knowing who is of what religion, about all humans who are victims of bloodshed

Posted by Dave Gilmer on Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 5:47 PM (EDT):

Well, Jesus del Salvador, first a little fact-checking. The current UN estimate of world population is ~7.1 billion, of which Muslims constitute some 1.6 billion. To cite BillionS of “moderate ‘mohammedans’“runs to the kind of useful idiocy desired by Islamist enablers. As to Turkey, some 3.5 million protesters are estimated as having taken part in this year’s protests. Sounds impressive until you realize the total population is over 75 million.

The Turkish protests started out over a land-development issue, with elements of wanna-be Occupy Movement thrown in. True, many of these protests were against the Islamist tendencies of the ruling AKP Prime Minister Erdogan, but particularly ominous was the silence of an intimidated press. You can bet the next generation is already leaning toward acceptance of Islamist policies, since one of the Erdogan regime’s avowed goals is the creation of a “pious generation.” As we are learning in the US, determined delivery of propaganda by the government schools often trumps any parental or religious teachings. My guess is that the inspired work of Kemal Ataturk will be overcome by totalitarian Islam in the next 20 years.

In the meantime, I hope the EU will wait and see before admitting the Turks. The younger generation of them living in Germany is already a major problem; also the case for other Islamic nationalities in the UK, Holland, France, and Scandinavia. Less knee-jerk tolerance of Islam is definitely justified by current events.

Posted by Tony on Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 5:03 PM (EDT):

The only “good guys” in Syria are the victims of the violence there who are not perpetrators of violence themselves. Sad to say, there is clearly a culture of violence in Syria, inflamed by Muslim extremism, that has to be eradicated in order for there to be peace. Unfortunately, changing men’s hearts is no easy task, and in the case of fanatics, can become a nearly impossible feat. The best solution is for sane people to flee Syria and anywhere Muslim extremism prevails. Just Google “Syria Atrocities” and you’ll see how savage and subhuman the level of evil is there - on the part of both sides.

Posted by Sue on Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 4:35 PM (EDT):

J.DelSalvador:
[“Your “all bad” approach to Muslims mirrors those radical Muslims who seek to do us harm; to them, all non-Muslims are “all bad.” You are welcome to take the same approach. But be warned, it is this approach that ultimately leads to horrible consequences for both sides.”]
You are correct….there have always been good and bad in all religions, nationalities, races, etc. There are different kinds of Christians and different kinds of Jews and different kinds of Muslims. We have to work with the ones who will help to bring peace and love to this world.

Posted by Jesus Del Salvador on Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 12:14 PM (EDT):

Wow, Jerry, Dave, you have certainly learned Christ’s teachings. First, you may be surprised to learn, there are in fact billions of moderate “mohammedans” Just look to Turkey, where secular Muslim students are protesting the bias toward Islamist testing for admission in to state universities. It certainly does’t reflect the Muslims I know personally who celebrate Christmas (Christmas tree and all) because Christ is a prophet in their religion.

Your “all bad” approach to Muslims mirrors those radical Muslims who seek to do us harm; to them, all non-Muslims are “all bad.” You are welcome to take the same approach. But be warned, it is this approach that ultimately leads to horrible consequences for both sides.

I don’t expect you to kinds this reality check well. But if you hold this anger and hate inside you, then you are less like Christ and a lot more like the radical Muslims.

Posted by Dave Gilmer on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 9:52 PM (EDT):

Well, Jerry - that’s the problem of a REAL religion of peace! You go the extra mile. As you point out, there comes a time when evil must be recognised and called what it is. Personally, I have a hard time ever trusting a religion whose founder approved lying to the infidel Christians and Jews. We’re just not quite ready to hoist the banners and hear the Pope preach the Next Crusade. Maybe we should get bumper stickers that read “Bl. Pope Urban II Was Right” and “Enough persecution, it’s time for a just war”! The problem is that B Hussein Obama couldn’t organise a two-car funeral, and the body would be pretty smelly by the time he even decided it was dead. Too much denial of the obvious by everyone but the Muslims!

Posted by Jerry on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 8:21 PM (EDT):

As an Atheist (and tried to be raised Greek Catholic by my parents), when are your Catholic leaders, including your pope, going to realize that mohammedans are the menace of humanity? They’re can’t be “understanding” and “dialogue” with them. The ones who claim to be “moderate” (as opposed to what?) cannot be trusted. It’s the rest of the world, religionist and secularist, vs. the mohammedans. One or the other must go. There are no alternatives. Mohammedanism must be eradicated from the world. The mohammedans can either renounce their religion or face the alternative. Okay, I’ll say it - extinction.

Posted by Heather on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 7:27 PM (EDT):

What do you want from Obama? When he suggested we should respond to the chemical attack that killed 1,400 people, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pope himself were against it. Now do you want him to strike because it was a Christian city that was attacked?
.
The President must deal with more complex issues than your religious bias.

Posted by Con O Sullivan on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 4:25 PM (EDT):

Heather. If it was Jews or Atheists mursered the President would not be silent. and a question for you could you give us information of Jews and Atheists killed in Maalula

Posted by Con O Sullivan on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 4:22 PM (EDT):

And B Hussein Obama is silent about these and other murders of Christians

Posted by ugwu on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 2:10 PM (EDT):

This is d ppl obama want instal as a governmnt to syria. May God help christians 4rm obama.

Posted by Heather on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 2:07 PM (EDT):

I have to say the title of this article and the responses express how shallow Catholics can be. Human beings were massacred, works of art were destroyed, and other atrocities were committed—and all you can complain about is that they were Catholic/Christians.
.
I suppose none of the other civilians matter to you. If some one declared his/her Jewish faith or, even worse, atheism and got killed for not converting to Islam, you wouldn’t (or didn’t?) write about it.

Posted by Hasan Raza Syed on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 1:01 PM (EDT):

Rise atleast for christians if not for humanity o christians of usa

Posted by Gina LePore on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 12:14 PM (EDT):

This sickens me…Who do they think they are forcing their murdering religion on anyone…They really want to destroy all the Christians and Jews…that’s the bottom line…Just think this is what the Obama Administration is arming.? “Mercy”

Posted by Charles A. Wilson on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 11:31 AM (EDT):

Christians all over the war zones in the Middle East and also Pakistan, where I’m from are sufferng grave injustice by by Muslim fanatics and it’s time the world take note and of the innocent Christians, recently in Syra and Lebonon and previously in certain parts of the northern territories of Pakistan. The slaughter in Syria should be condemned by the peace-loving nations and Russia and China are partly to blame with their politics in the Middle East.

Posted by Larry Peterson on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 11:20 AM (EDT):

These men died for Christ. They are martyrs no matter what denomination of Christianity they belong to—-

Posted by Dave Gilmer on Saturday, Sep 14, 2013 11:19 AM (EDT):

This is what the “Religion of Peace” has always done. Judaism and Christianity have been led by God away from this kind of evil. That He can’t get any traction in this regard with Islam tells us all we need to know about the core being of that religion!

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About Joan Desmond

Joan Frawley Desmond, is the Register’s senior editor. She is an award-winning journalist widely published in Catholic, ecumenical and secular media. A graduate of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies of Marriage and Family, she lives with her family in Menlo Park, Ca, in the San Francisco Archdiocese.